meisler



(N0-Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1. 1. MBISLER.

LEAK STOPPBR POR VBSSBLS. No. 353,800. Patented Deo. 7,1886.

l? 1 l o o o o o o o o o c :yi: u l i al-T x U. u o5 o o o o o o o o o o no u l, l j o; o o o o o o o o o o o u o o o o o o O o o o l! ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. I. MEISLER.

LEAK sToPPBR PoR VESSELS. No. 353,800.

ATTO /VEYS- N PETERS. Phom-Lnnngmpher, wnshinglon, Dv C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEo IGNATZ MEISLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LEAK-STOPPER FOR VESSELS.

` SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353.800, dated December 7, 1886.

Application filed July 1, 1886. Serial No. 206,796. (No model.)

To all whom'z't may concern.-

Beit known that l, IGNATZ MEIsLER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Closing Leaks in Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is designed to furnish for vessels an improved device for closing leaks caused by collision,'the device being capable of quick application and adapted to tightly close the leak, so as to prevent the sinking of the vessel; and the invention consists of a flexible cover that is composed of an eXterior layer of rubber, one or more layers of canvas, and interior intercrossing strips,which are attached to the layers of canvas by rivets. The cover is provided at both sides with retaining-hooks for the istening-chains,that eX- tend around the hull of the vessel. A guard frame or grating is first placed over the leak and the cover over the grating, the cover being rigidly secured in position by the chains and by means of rails that correspond to the shape of the vessel at the middle part, stern, and bow of the same, the rails being also tightly secured by chains attached to the ends of the'rails and extended around the hull ot' the vessel. Intermediate chains or ropes and transverse re-enforcing planks, that are placed in position by belts and pulleys of the rails, serve asadditional means for holding the cover in position over the leak of the vessel, as will more fully appear hereinaften, and finally be 1 pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of avesscl with my improved device for closing leaks applied to the middle part of the vessel. Figs. 2 and 3 are an outside and inside elevation ofthe fiexible cover that is placed over the leak, drawn on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section of a portion ot' the flexible cover. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of one of the rails by which the cover is retained in position. Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 1l are vertical transverse sections of the vessel, showing the rail and cover attached to different parts of the hull; and Figs. 12 and 13 are a side View and a vertical transverse section'of the guard frame or grating that is placed over the leak before applying the flexible cover.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The essential elements of my method of closing leaks consist of a flexible cover, A, fastening-rails B B, a guard frame or grating, C, and chains A and B, by which the ilexible cover A and :rails B are applied to the hull of the vessel. The cover A is constructed of a stout Iexterior layer, a, of soft rubber, one or more intermediate layers, a, of stout canvas, and intercrossing strips of rubbena, that are applied to the inner side of the cover andattached to the layers a a by means of rivets a3 at the points of intersection of the rubber strips. The intercrossing rubber strips a2 form at the under side of the cover cells or sections of square or oblong shape, which, when they are tightly pressed on the hull of the vessel', produce the tight fitting of the cover to the same.

as to hold the cover in close contact with the cover in the manner shown in Fig 2, and hold the coverin position over the leak. For leaks of very large size in iron ships. and in case of leaks in Wooden vessels, a guard frame or grating, D, is employed. which is first placed in position over the leak, and which serves to support the cover and to prevent it from interfering with the splintered portion of the hull, and to neutralize the suction and pressure of the Water on the cover when applying the same. When thechains A are applied to the sides of the cover, the latter can be readily IOO Y readily accomplished, as the saine extend entirely around the hull. When the cover is in position, two or more iron rails, B, are placed over the cover, saidrails beingmade eitherl 1n one piece or of a number of sections, which,

are hinged together, as shown in Fig. 7. When made of one piece, different shapes of railsB have to be provided, that tit the different curves of the hull at the bow, the middle part, and stern. The rails B are either stored away on deck or retained in position along the sides of the hull by thev chains' B', which `are attached to rings at the upper and lower ends of the rails, and extended around the keel and opposite side of the hull to suitablepoints of support on deck, as shown in Figs. 6,-8, and 10. When the rails are to be applied over the cover, the chains B are loosened, so that the rails have sufficient play to pass over the cover A, after which they are tightly applied to the same, as shown in Figs. 7, 9, and 11. Two rails are preferably used, which are applied near the sides of the cover, as shown in Fig. 7. In addition to the rails, the cover A is attached by intermediate chains'or ropes, C, as shown in Fig. 1, which, like the fastening-chains A and B of the cover and rails, extend around the entire hull.

For the purpose of re-enforcing the cover and enabling it` to resist the pressure of water, planks E are used, which extend from rail to' rail, and are placed in vposition by means of ropes e e, which pass over pulleys e at the lower ends of the rails B, and through rings c2r at the upper ends of the rails, as shown in Fig. 7. The ropes e e are provided withhooks e3, which are applied to the upper edge of the plank, so that by moving the ropes e e the plank is moved along the cover toits proper position. The ropes e e are then moved in opposite direction over the pulleys and the yhooks applied to the next plank, 'and the same placed in position, and so on until all the planks are in position.

The planks are retained in position by the rails B and intermediate chains or ropes, C, as shown in Fig. 1. The rails B, intermediate ropes, C, and planks E serve to press the dexible cover A tightly over'the leak of the hull, so that a water-proof sealing is obtained, which is greatly assisted by the tight fitting of the interior rubber strips on the hull, as they divide the inner surface of the cover into cells and prevent the entrance of water from one cell to the other, even if some of the strips should not tightly hug the hull. strips check to some extent the entrance `of water, as they fill up the joints and adapt themselves in a higher degree Vto 'the irregularities and uneven portions of the hull than the exterior body of the cover. lThe rails B abut by their lower angular ends against lthe keel, which latter serves as an abutment `for holding the rails in proper position. The upper ends of the rails extend above the hull, so

The rubber' as to facilitate their attachment tothe mast or other point of support, y

In ease the vessel ships a leak by collision or otherwise, the location of the leak is first ascertained, and then the guard frame or grat- Y ing lowered by means of chains and placed over the leak. The iiexible water-proof cover A is then placed over the grating by means of its chains by being lowered and tightly applied to the hull and the keel, andtinally firmly se The cover checks to some V cured on the deck. extent the iniiux of water. The rails are next placed in position over the cover and tightly secured by their'chains, by which the tight closing of the cover at the sides is obtained.

A number of longitudinal planks are then ap- A- plied to the cover by means of the guide-ropes of the rails, whereby the bulging of the cover at its middle part 'is prevented. The intermediate chains or ropes are nally applied over the cover and planks, and therebythe f cover bound'up securely, so as tostop the` leak in a reliable and effective manner.

My improved device for closing leaks is also of special advantage to sailingvessels built of wood, in which the exact location of the leak can only be determined with some difticulty, and in which the water enters alsol through the partial opening of the joints at some distance away from the real leak, as the cover islarge enough to extend sufficiently in all directions from the leak and over the open joints and leaking portions, so that a direct Water-proof closing of the leak is obtained.

By proper practice and handling of the'cover it can beapplied easily in from eight to twelve minutes, after .which the water' that has entered through the leak can be pumped out with great facility, and thereby the vessel kept alioat, with less danger to the lives of the passengers and loss of vessel and cargo.

Having thus described myinvention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A flexible cover for closing leaks in vessels, consisting of an exterior layer of rubber,

riveted to themlayers of rubber and canvas, substantially as set forth. Y

2. The combination,`with the hull of a ves lIO ' `one or more re-enforcing layers of canvas, and

interior intercrossing strips of rubber that are sel, of a Aflexible cover having interior intercrossing rubberstrip and side hooks andrings, with endless chains that extend around the tially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the hull of a ves- I ble cover, `endless chains applied tothe cover placed over the guard frame `or grating, and

12o hull for tightly fastening the cover, substan rails corresponding to the shape of the hull and attached over the cover by chains, and intermediate chains or ropes, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the hull, of a flexible cover, chains for attaching said cover to the hull, rails corresponding to the shape of the hull, chains for attaching said rails to the hull, longitudinal planks placed over the cover, and endless ropes passing over pulleys and rings of the rails, and having hooks for placing the planks in position7 substantially asset forth.

6. The combination, with the hull of a ves- 

